Fluid fuel burner construction



Nov. 10, 1931. w. w. WILLIAMS FLUID FUEL BURNER CONSTRUCTIOh Filed March 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR W/IL TEI? 14 WILL m/ms ATTORNEY No v. 1 1931. w. w.;w|LL|AM$ 1,831,271

FLUID FUEL BURNER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 13; 19:50 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M N N I ENVENTOR WHLTER W-W/LL/AM6 ATTORNEY V Patented Nov. 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER WILLIAMS, OF BLOOHINGTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAMS OIL- O- HATIG HEATING CORPORATIOIW, OF IBLOOMIII'GTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS rum) rum. BUR-HER cous'rm'icmou Application filed larch 1a, 1930. Serial No. 435,424.

This invention relates to improvements in fluid fuel burner construction and more particularly to the provisionof a particular construction for delivering the fluid fuel to the.-

the heavier type, such as is commercially known as fuel oil, to a nozzle anddischarglng' the heavy oil in a finely divided state through the nozzle opening into a combustion chamber where it is ignited and burned. To deliver a liquid in a finely divided state into the surrounding atmosphere is called atomization.

One of the recognized means for producing atomization is to force a liquid under pressure through a small opening from which. the liquid emerges in a finely divided state or spray. Itisan object of this invention to provide means for atomizing or spraying the heavy fuel oil through a much larger opening than is ordinarily required to atomize or spray such a fluid and to deliver only such a quantity of thefuel as is required in a domestic fluid fuel or oil burner. A domestic fluid fuel or oil burner should roduce only theamount of heat required or operating the heating system and an excess of heat will not only be injurious to the furnace but will be an unnecessary waste of the fuel. If a heavy fluid fuel, such as commercial fuel oil, be forced under pressure through a nozzle having a discharge opening small enough to permit the passage of only suflicient fuel to produce the heatnecessary to safely operate the heating system, such a small opening will easily become clogged and render the burner inoperative. If a much larger discharge opening was provided in the nozzle and sufii-- cient pressure was placed upon the fuel oil passing therethrough to atomize or spray it,

the amount of fuel would be far greater than that required and if ignited would produce a temperature that would be dangerous to the ordinary furnace.

- VVit-h these objects in view, reference is made to the accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention. with the understanding that minor detail changes may be made therein without departing from the scope thereof.

Figure lis a view in side elevation of a pre-.

ferred embodiment of this invention with the parts broken away and partly in section.

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of Figure 1 with parts broken away and partly in section.

Figurev 3 is an enlarged-detail view in longitudinal vertical section of a fluid fuel delivery means constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrated as applied in Figures 1 and 2. v r

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the construction of the fluid controlled fluid fuel port.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view partly in cross section and partly in side elevation illustrating the discharge nozzle and the arrangement of parts therein.

While Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the appli cation of this invention to a commercial domestic liquid fuel or oil burner, it is to be understood that it may be applied to other types of oil burners for domestic and industrial purposes as well.

Figures 1 and- 2 illustrate a housing 1,

mounted upon supports 2, on 'a base 3. The

upon the shaft 4 driven by the motor. This air compressor and fluid fuel metering pump are constructed in accordance with the disclosure in this applicants prior coending application Serial No. 284,545, filed une 11, 1928, and as they form no particular part of this invention it is thought that only a brief reference to these parts is necessary to the understanding of this-invention. A fan blower 9 is mounted upon the motordriven shaft 4 within the central housing 1, which draws air in through openings 10 provided on the side of the housing supporting the air and fuel pumps and delivering this air under slight pressure through a draft pipe 11 extending at right angles to the motor shaft 4 from the casing 1, the exterior end of which is adapted to enter within the combustion chamber of the furnace or heater to which the fluid fuel burner is attached.

The fluid fuel is delivered through a. pipe 12 passing centrally through the draft pipe 11, terminating in a nozzle 13 adjacent the combustion chamber end of the draft pipe, which nozzle supports an air spiral 14 at this end, which construction is also illustrated in said prior co-pending application of this applicant. The electric motor is adapted to be connected to the commercial electric lighting system of the building and is provided with the usual controls which do not form any part of this invention. The fuel discharged from the nozzle in the form of a spray mixing with the air delivered from the open end of the draft pipe 11 is preferably ignited by an .electric spark umping across between two electrodes 15, preferably connected with a transformer 16, and as this general type of ignition is illustrated in the said prior copending application of this applicant and as it forms no part of this invention it is not thought that a more detailed description is necessary to the understanding of this device. The pipe 12 extends through the casing 1 under the fan 9 and communicates with a float chamber 17 secured on the outer rear end of the casing 1. A fuel discharge pipe 18 of less exterior diameter than the inner diameter of the pipe 12 is mounted centrally therein and is connected at one end to a vertically arranged pipe 19, of preferably the same diameter, extending centrally of the float chamber 17 to the bottom thereof at which end it is closed. A float 20 is mounted to slide vertically upon the fuel discharge pipe 19 within the float chamber 17. This portion 19 of the fluid discharge pipe adjacent its lower closed end is provided with one or more inletports 21, the float 20 is arranged to snug-.

, 1y embrace the pipe 19 and its movement up and down acts to cover and uncover the inlet ports and forms, in effect, a valve.

The nozzle 13 is preferably secured to the outer end of the pipe 12. as shown in Figure 3. The nozzle is provided with a discharge opening 23 arranged concentric with the pipe 12 and is of greater. diameter than would ordinarily be required to produce a spray of heavy liquid fuel, such as fuel oil. The fuel discharge pipe 18 terminates within the nozzle 13 and mounts a spiral 24 having'a recess therein of the same diameter as the pipe 18. This spiral 24, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, comprises a cylindrical member snugly fitting and supported within the'nozzle 13 adjacent the discharge opening 23 and is pro- Y vided with two helical grooves 25 forming a means of communication from thespace between the pipes 13 and 18, on one side, to the space between the end of the spiral and end of the nozzle, on the other side. The recess within the spiral 24 communicating with the pipe 18 is preferably provided with oppositel disposed radial passageways 26 connecting the interior of the recess with the bottom of each groove of the spiral 24 adjacent the opening of these grooves into the space leading to the discharge opening 23 of the nozzle. It is preferable that the sum of areas of the two helical grooves be slightly less than the area of the discharge opening 23.

In the present embodiment of this invention, as illustrated in connection with this particular type of commercial oil burner, the fluid fuel is conducted from a source, not shown, through a pipe 26 to the intake side of the metering pump'7 by which a-predetermined uniform amount of fluid fuel 1s constantly delivered into the rotary air compres sor 5 and from thence through a pipe 27 it is delivered, together with air under pressure, to the upper side of the float chamber 17. It

is not necessary to this invention that the air duction but it also provides lubrication for v the air compressor as well.- As far as this invention is concerned a metering pump for the fluid fuel and a compressor for the air could be mounted independently of each other and driven by separate independent means as long as the fluid fuel and the air under compression are both delivered to the interior of the float chamber 17, being delivered through the same or separate passageways.

In the manner shown upon the drawings, the fluid fuel and air under pressure are together delivered by the pipe 27 through the upper casing of the float chamber 17. A separation immediately takes place, the fluid fuel collecting at the bottom of the chamber while the air under pressure passes out through the space between the pipe 12 and the fuel discharge pipe 18 and thence through the helical grooves and spiral 24 and discharge opening 23 of the nozzle 13, the area of the spiral groove being less than the area of the discharge opening of the nozzle, a pressure is created above the surface of the fluid fuel within the float chamber 17. As the fluid fuel collects in the bottom of the float chamber, the float is caused to rise and uncover the ports 21 in the pipe 19.

As shown in Figure 4, the inlet ports 21 are preferably two in number arranged diainto the pipe 19. The fluid fuel passing and the body of the (pipe on the under side of each port is tapere downwardly, as shown in this fi ure. The ports 21 are arranged so thatthe ottom of the float will completely uncover theports when suflicient fluid fuel is being delivered into the float chamber to produce the maximum flame for the burner, and v to uncover the lowermost passageway formedby the tapered sections of the pipe when suflicient fluid fuel is being delivered into the float chamber to produce the minimum flame for the burner, whereby as the float ascends it will gradually uncover the ports 21 and allow the internal pressure within the float chamber 17, to pass the fluid fuel. through the ports through the inlet port-s 21 passes through the I pipes 19 and 18 to the recess within the spiral 24 and thence through the radial passage:

ways 26 leading to the bottoms of the grooves 25 adjacent the forward end of the spiral.

The air under pressure rushing through the spiral grooves picks up the particles of the fluid fuel and carries them through the dis.-

. izes with the pressure about the end 'of the nozzle slightly above'the float chamber 17.

be ignited by the electrodes 15 within 'the combustion chamber of the furnace. Inascharge opening 23 of the nozzle in a whirling spray to mix with the air issuing from the draft pipe to form acombustible mixture to nozzle and the fluid fuel remaining inthe pipes 18 and 19 will drain back into the bot.-

- tom of the float chamber 17 The drawing illustrate the fuel pipe 12 mounting the As heretofore stated, this device is primarly'constructed to provide a' uniform flow of fluid fuel to the burner nozzle regardless of the character of the fluid fuel. While a needle valvein the fluid fuel supply ipe would answer to control the amountof uid fuel admit-ted into the float chamber it would require constant adjustment to compensate for change in viscosity of the fuel as well as change in the temperature of the fuel and it is therefore preferable to' employ the meterin; pump illustrated. The particular type of metering pump preferable is disclosed in -'.this apnlicautsprior Patent 1.451.789 of April 17 1923, and when. a metering pump of this character is adjusted to deliver a predetermined amount of fluid fuel it will continue to deliver-a constant volume of the fluid fuel regardless of the quality of said fuel. It is therefore preferable that the meteringpump 5 be employed to deliver a constant quantity of the fluid fuel to the float chamber. The float 20 whichis mounted to cover and uncover the tapered inlet ports 21 may be said to be a metering valve to insure a constant discharge of the fluid fuel from the float chamber to the nozzle.

In fluid fuel burners the volume of the flame depends-upon the amount of fluid fuel discharged from. the burner nozzle and vari-' ous conditions require various size flames, depending'upontheheating' plant, the character of the furnace, etc. Themetering pump is therefore adjusted in accordance with the volume of the flame desired and will deliver theamount of fuel tothe float chamber 17.

"As the fuel is discharged into the float cham- SG K' her, the float will rise and gradually uncover the ports 21. If the volume of the flame desired is less than the maximum for which the devicg is-constructed the float will only partially uncover discharge ports 21 so that the pressure above the liquid level in the float chamber will cause a constant flow of the liquid through the ports 21 and thence through pipes 19' and 18 to the passageways 26 in the spiral to the nozzle regardlessof the character of the fluid fuel. his to be noted that the float automatically adjusts itself to compensate for any adjustments in the metering pump and it at all tunes insures a constant flow of the liquid fuel through the burner nozzle. In the co'nstructioushown, as heretofore said, upon the cessation of the operation of the metering and air pumps the fluid fuel will drain out of the nozzle through pipe-s18 and 19 into the bottom of the float chamber. As it takes a certain amount of time after the pumps have ceased operating or fail to have drained from the passageways, 26 in the spiral will be blown out, so that it may be said upon cessation of operation of the burner, the burner nozzle is blowndry.

A fluid fuel burner to operate efficiently 7 for the pressure within the float chamber to equalize with the pressure exterior of the. nozzle whatever fluid fuel may be'entrapped should produce aheat of constant'intensity,

which is a very difficult matter in view-of the fact thatcommerc'ial fluid fuels vary in chat'- actcr. This applicant by the means above described has insured-a constant flow of fluid I fuel to the burner nozzle and hence a constant flame to the furnace irrespective of the character of the ployed. j

\Vhat I claim is:

v 1. An electrically operated er mechanism provided with means for procommercial liquid fuel emducing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozzle including a chamber,

means for delivering a predetermined constant uniform. flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber,-means for delivering a constant flow of air under a predetermined pressure to the chamber, means for conducting'the fluid fuel from the chamber under the air pressure to the burner nozzle, means including a float within the chamber for insuring a constant flow of fluid through said conductor, and means for conducting the air from the chamher and delivering it to contact and atomize the fuel delivered at the nozzle.

2. An electrically operated fluid fuel burner mechanism provided with means for producing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozzle including a chamber, means for delivering a predetermined constant uniform flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for delivering a constant flow of air under a predetermined pressure to the chamber, a fluid discharge pipe from the chamber to the nozzle, means including a float controlled valve within the chamber for insuring a constant flow of fluid fuel under chamber pressure through said discharge pipe, a pi connecting the interior of the chamber aiiiive the fluid level to the interior of the nozzle for conducting air under chamber pressure to the nozzle, and means within the nozzle restricting the passage of the air therethrough and directi .the passing air over the liquid fuel emerging from the discharge pipe to atomize the fuel as it is discharged from the nozzle.

3. An electrically operated fluid fuel burner mechanism provided with means for producing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozzle including a chamber, means for delivering a predetermined constant uniform flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for delivering a constant flow of air under a predetermined pressure to the chamber, a fluid fuel discharge pipe from the chamber to the nozzle having a normal vertically arranged portion extending to the bottom of the chamber, fluid fuel inlet ports provided in said vertical portion, a float mounted for vertical movement about said vertical portion and adapted to cover anduncover said ports in accordance with the liquid level in said chamber, a pipe connecting the interior of the chamber above the fluid level to the interior of the nozzle for conducting air under chamber pressure to the nozzle, and means within the nozzle restricting the passage of the air therethrough and directing the passing air over the liquid fuel emerging from the discharge pipe to atomize the fuel as it is discharged from the nozzle.

4. An electrically operated fluid fuel burncr mechanism provided with means for producing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozzle including a chamber, means for delivering a predetermined constant uniform flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for delivering a constant flow of air under a predetermined pressure to the chamber, a fluid fuel'discharge pipe from the chamber to the nozzle having a normal vertically arranged portion extending to the bottom of i the chamber, fluid fuel inlet po ts provided in said vertical portion, a float mounted for vertical movement about said vertical portion and adapted to cover and uncover said ports in accordance with the liquid level in said chamber, a ipe connecting the interior of the chamber a ove the fluid level to the interior of the nozzle for conducting air under chamber pressure to the nozzle, and means within the nozzle restricting the passage of theair therethrough and directing the passing air over the liquid fuel emerging from the discharge pipe to atomize the fuel as it is discharged from the nozzle, said means including a recessed helical spiral member mounted on the end of the fluid fuel discharge pipe and engaging the inner walls of the nozzle provided with radial passages from the interior of the said recess to the bottoms of the discharge ends of the said helix.

5. An electrically operated fluid fuel burner mechanism provided with means for producing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozzle including a chamber, means for delivering a predetermined constant uniform flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for delivering a constant flow of air under a predetermined pressure to the chamber, a fluid fuel discharge pipe from the chamber to the nozzle having'a normal vertically arranged portion extending to the bottom of the chamber, fluid fuel inlet ports provided in said vertical portion having the wall of said portion therebelow tapered from the inner bottom edge of each port, a float mounted for vertical movement about said vertical portion and adapted to cover and uncover said ports in accordance with the liquid level in said chamber, a pipe connecting the interior of thenozzle for conducting air under chamber pressure to the nozzle, and means within the nozzle restricting the passage of the air therethrough and directing the passing air over the liquid fuel'emerging from the discharge pipe to atomize the fuel as it is discharged from the nozzle, said means including a recessed helical spiral member mounted on the end of the fluid fuel discharge pipe and engaging the inner walls of the nozzle provided with radial passages from the interior of the said recess to the bottoms of the discharge ends of the said helix.

6. An electrically operated fluid fuel burner mechanism provided with means for producing acombustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozzle including a chamber, means for delivering constant uniform flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for delivering a constant flow of air under pressure to the chamber, means for conducting the fluid fuel from the chamber under theair pressure to the burner nozzle, automatic compensating means including a float within the chamber for insuring a constant flow of the fluid fuel through said conductor, and means for conducting the air from the chamber and delivering it to contact and atomizethe fuel deliv'-' cred at the nozzle.

7. An electrically operated fluid fuel'burner mechanism provided with means for producing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at' the burner nozzle including a chamber, means for delivering aconstant uniform flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means, for delivering a constant flow of air under pressure to the chamber, a fluid fuel discharge pipe from the chamber to the nozzle, means within the chamber for insuring a constant flow of fluid fuel under chamber pressure through said dis chargepipe including the provision of a' fuel inlet port" in the discharge. pipe within the chamber and a float coacting with said port to regulate-the size thereof in accordance with the level of the liquid fuel within the chamber, a pipe connecting the interior of the chamber above the fluid level to the interior of the nozzle for conducting air under chamber pressure to the nozzle, and means withinthe nozzle restricting thepassage of the air therethrough and dlrectin the passing air' at the burner nozzle including-a chamber,

means for delivering constant uniform flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for v delivering a constant flow of air under pres:

sure to the chamber, means for conducting the fluid fuel from-the chamberjunder the air pressure to the burner nozzle, automatic compensating means includin 1 a float controlled valve within the cham er for insulfing a constant flow of the fluid fuel through said conductor, means for conducting airfrom above the liquid level in the chamber to the nozzle, and means within the nozzle restricting the'passage of air therethrough and directingt'he air under pressure passmg therethrough over the fluid fuel to spray the fuel throu h the discharge of the nozzle.

n electrically operated fluid fuel burn ermechanism provided with means-for producing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozz'le including a chamber, means for delivering a constant uniform flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for delivering a constant flow of air under pressure to the chamber, a fluid-fuel discharge pipe from the chamber to the nozzle, means within the chamber for insuring a constant flow of fluid .fuel underfchamber ressure through said discharge pipe including" the provision of a fuel inlet port in thedischarge pipe within the chamber and a float coacting with said port to regulate the size thereof in accordance with the level of theliquid fuelwithin the chamber, apipe connecting the interior of the chamber above the fluid-level to the interior of the "nozzle for conducting air under chamb'er pressure to the nozzle, means for conducting air from above the liquid level in the chamber to the nozzle, and means within the nozzle rest icting the passage of air therethrough and directing the air under pressure passing therethrough over the fluid'fuelto spray the fuel through the discharge of the nozzle.

10. An electrically operated fluid fuel burner mechanism provided with means for producing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozzle including a chamber,

means for delivering a predetermined constant uniform flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for delivering a constant flow of air under a predetermined pressure to the chamber, a fluid fuel discharge pipe from the chamber to the nozzle having a normal vertically arranged portion extending to the bottom of the chamber, oppositely disposed fluid fuelinlet ports increasing in sizerupwardly provided 1n said vertical portion, a float mounted .for vertical movement about said vertical portion and adapted to cover and uncover said. ports in accordance with the llqllld level in said chamber, a pipe connectin -the interior of the chamber above the fluid level to the interior of the nozzle for conducting air under chamber pressure to the nozzle, a recessed member mounted on the end of the .fluidfuel discharge pipe and engaging the inner walls of the nozzle provided with a plurality-of helical grooves about the outer portion thereof and a corresponding number of radial passages from the lnterlor of the said recess to the bottoms of the discharge ends of the said grooves whereby the passage of air thereon produces a whirling spray of the fuel through the nozzle discharge.

11. An electrically operated fluid fuel burner mechanism provided with means for producing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozzle including a chamber, means for delivering a controlled flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for deliver inga constant flow of air under pressure to the chamber, means for conducting the fluid fuel from the chamber under the air pressure to the burner nozzle, means including a float within the chamber for insuring a constant flow of the fluid through said conductor, and means for conducting the air from thechamher and delivering it to contact andatomize the fuel delivered at the nozzle.

12.,fAn electrically operated fluid fuel burner mechanism'provided with means for producing a combustible mixture of fluid fuel at the burner nozzle including a chamber,

means for delivering acontrolled flow of the fluid fuel to the chamber, means for' delivering a constant flow of air under pressure to the chamber, a fluid discharge pipe from the chamber to the nozzle, means including a float controlled valve within the chamber for insuring a constant flow of fluidfuel under chamber pressure through said discharge pipe, a pipe connecting the interior of the chamber above the fluid level to the interior Of the nozzle for conducting air under chamber pressure to the nozzle, and means within the nozzle restricting the passage of the air therethrough and directing the passing air over the liquid fuel emerging from the discharge pipe to atomize the fuel as it is discharged from the nozzle.

WALTER W. WILLIAMS. 

